ITIL Certification Renewal: A Complete Guide

In the fast-moving world of IT, keeping your certifications current isn’t just a formality—it’s essential for staying relevant. That’s why ITIL Certification Renewal has become a hot topic among IT professionals across the globe. With PeopleCert’s new requirement making renewal mandatory every three years, the once ‘lifetime’ ITIL Certifications now come with an expiry date. This shift has sparked plenty of questions: Why the change? What do you need to do? And how can you turn this into a career advantage?

ITIL Certification Renewal is more than a policy update- it’s a chance to refresh your knowledge, expand your skill set, and demonstrate your commitment to best practices in IT service management. In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know - from renewal options and certification levels to benefits and common queries, so you’re fully prepared for your next step.

Table of Contents

1) ITIL Certification Renewal Process

2) What are the Levels of ITIL 4 Courses?

3) How do I Get Certified?

4) List a few job roles related to ITIL 4

5) How Will the Certification Help You?

6) What if I Have to Renew More Than One ITIL Certification?

7) What is the Life Cycle of ITIL?

8) Conclusion

ITIL Certification Renewal Process

As of 1st January 2023, all the ITIL Certificate holders are supposed to renew their certification every three years mandatorily. This news might shock many ITIL Certificate holders and aspirants, as ITIL was earlier to be a lifetime certificate.

However, the decision to renew the ITIL certification every three years was recently made public in PeopleCert’s new Continuing Professional Development initiative. The renewal processes for ITSM vs ITIL differ drastically from each other.

Renewal Process

Based on when you originally got your certification, you will be expected to renew your certification according to the following guidelines:

a) If you are certified before 30 June 2020 - you must renew your certificate before 1 July 2023, regardless of when you first obtained the certificate.

b) If you are certified after June 2020 – You have to renew your certificate within three years of when you were awarded the certificate.

For ITIL renewal, you must complete any of the qualifications mentioned below. This will include all the modules, including the ITIL foundation certification renewal:

a) Retake your current ITIL exam before it expires

b) Complete another ITIL Certification within the same product suite

c) Earn and maintain the required (60) CPD points over the three-year period

What if I Don’t Renew my ITIL Certificate?

Even if you can't complete the ITIL Certification Renewal process before the renewal deadline, you will be included on the Successful Candidates Register (SCR) and the Candidate Verification Service. But you must remember that a note will be added to your records that show that your certification requires renewal to remain current.

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What are the Pathways to ITIL 5 Certification?

The ITIL (Version 5) pathway is structured to help professionals progress from basic knowledge to advanced expertise in IT Service Management and digital transformation.

1) ITIL 5 Foundation Certification

1) Entry-level certification introducing core concepts, terminology, and principles

2) Focuses on Service Value System, value co-creation, and digital product thinking

3) Covers modern topics like AI-enabled environments and experience management

4) Valid for three years and acts as a prerequisite for all advanced levels

2) ITIL 5 Managing Professional

1) Focuses on practical application of ITIL in real-world environments

2) Requires completion of: ITIL Product, ITIL Service, ITIL Experience, and ITIL Transformation

3) Covers service lifecycle, product delivery, and customer experience

4) Helps professionals manage IT services and operations effectively

5) Includes a transition module for ITIL 4 professionals

3) ITIL 5 Strategic Leader Certifications

1) Designed for leadership and strategic roles

2) Requires ITIL Strategy and ITIL Transformation modules

3) Focuses on governance, digital strategy, and long-term value creation

4) Aligns IT services with organisational goals

5) Suitable for senior professionals and decision-makers

4) ITIL 5 Practice Manager

1) Focuses on managing specific ITIL practices in operational environments

2) Requires one practice group (not all three) plus ITIL Transformation

3) Practice groups to choose from:

a) Monitor, Support and Fulfil

b) Plan, Implement and Control

c) Collaborate, Assure and Improve

5) ITIL Transformation

1) Focuses on leading organisational change and embedding new ways of working

2) Connects strategy, governance, and execution to deliver value

3) Covers digital evolution and sustainable transformation

4) Mandatory shared module across all three advanced designations; Managing Professional, Strategic Leader, and Practice Manager

6) ITIL 5 Extension Modules Certifications

1) Includes specialised modules such as AI Governance

2) Focuses on ethical and responsible use of AI in digital services

3) Expands knowledge beyond core ITIL practices

4) Helps professionals stay relevant in modern digital environments

5) AI Governance has been formally announced as part of the ITIL Version 5 scheme, however its official launch date has not yet been confirmed

7) ITIL Master (Highest Level)

1) Highest level of ITIL designation

2) Achieved after completing Managing Professional, Strategic Leader, and Practice Manager

3) Demonstrates deep, end-to-end expertise in ITIL practices

4) Validates ability to apply ITIL concepts in complex, real-world scenarios

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How do I Get Certified?

There are two ways to gain an ITIL Certificate:

Apply with an accredited training organisation for a course which includes the exam as a part of the training course.

Another option would be to do a self-study by using the core ITIL manual. Once you start preparing for the exam, you can book the ITIL exam directly with the People Cert. (Note that this option might not be available for all ITIL modules.  It is advisable for you to kindly go through the modules for individual requirements).

List of Job Roles Related to ITIL 5

Here are some key roles you can pursue with ITIL (Version 5) across different career levels:

1) IT Service Desk Analyst

2) IT Project Coordinator

3) IT Service Manager

4) Service Delivery Manager

5) Change Manager

6) IT Operations Manager

7) IT Governance Manager

8) Digital Transformation Lead

How Will the Certification Help You?

As you explore the benefits of ITIL (Version 5) Certification, it is important to understand how it enhances modern IT service delivery in digital and AI-driven environments. Here are some key ways ITIL 5 can support your career:

1) Helps you understand how IT supports business strategy, including digital products, value streams, and AI-enabled services.

2) Enables you to improve workflows and adopt flexible, collaborative ways of working using updated guiding principles.

3) Promotes a value-driven approach focused on collaboration, co-creation, and customer experience.

4) Strengthens communication skills to build reliable and effective stakeholder relationships.

5) Prepares you to work in complex, fast-changing digital environments with greater adaptability.

6) Provides a common language for managing modern IT services, helping you stand out and grow your digital career.

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What if I Have to Renew More Than One ITIL Certification?

If you need to renew multiple ITIL Certifications, you can streamline the process by scheduling exams close together, using combined study materials, and leveraging any overlapping content to save time and effort.

What is the Life Cycle of ITIL?

The ITIL life cycle consists of five stages:

a) Service Strategy

b) Service Design

c) Service Transition

d) Service Operation

e) Continual Service Improvement

These stages ensure efficient service management and continuous enhancement of IT services.

Conclusion

We have given an in-depth understanding of ITIL and how it can help you grow your ITIL career. This blog also includes the latest updates on ITIL Certification Renewal and recertification. If you're aiming to stay ahead of your competition, exploring ITIL Interview Questions can be a valuable part of your preparation and continuous learning. Follow the ITIL renewal process given above to stay ahead of your competition.

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